Three weeks after its Oct. 5 debut, the NHL is delivering everything it promised with the new rule changes in effect. Teams are scoring more, there are more breakaways, and the ever-popular shootout is becoming a main attraction. Watching hockey used to be more like watching curling: little action in a game you didn't really understand in the first place. Now the action is fast, the hits intense, and the shots superb. Here's a quick recap of what's been happening around the league to this point.
The biggest team stories have to be those of the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Preds are 7-0-0 and remain the league's only unbeaten team. The offseason treated them very well, as they added Paul Kariya and Steve Sullivan to their beleaguered squad.
While the duo is leading the team right now with seven and ten points, respectively, the team's biggest star has been goaltender Tomas Vokoun. Vokoun has somehow managed to maintain a miraculous 1.95 goals against average (GAA), even with the new rules, and has made the Predators the team to watch in a city that hasn't seen ice in quite some time.
On the flip side of the coin, the Pittsburgh Penguins - a team that looks spectacular on paper - has managed to achieve a winless record in nine games so far this season. The Pens spent the majority of the offseason gobbling up talented veterans in New York Yankee-like fashion, and it has not paid off in the slightest.
The one positive note is rookie sensation Sidney Crosby, who has tallied 12 points in nine games this season. It doesn't look like this kid is going to be the next hockey version of Tim Couch or Tony Mandarich. He looks like Lebron on blades. It's easy to watch Crosby play too, as Penguins games are on NESN, OLN or CBC, and it's worth it.
From elsewhere around the league, there are many individual performances worth noting. Jaromir Jagr of the New York Rangers is absolutely tearing it up. In ten games this season, Jagr has 15 points, including ten goals. After a 2003 season in which he apparently thought it was still amateur hour, Jagr has hit the ice flying in '05.
Something else to watch is the emergence of the Philadelphia Flyers' dynamic duo, as Peter Forsberg has apparently found a new favorite target in Simon Gagne.
Forsberg has 12 assists this year and no goals, while Gagne is tied for second in the league with seven goals, all of which have been assisted by Forsberg. The Las Vegas odds on the Flyers to win the Stanley Cup were 3-1 preseason. They are off to a 4-3 start, but look like a solid contender for Lord Stanley's prize.
The Detriot Red Wings have emerged as the league's overwhelmingly dominant team in the first ten games this season. The Wings have a record of 9-1 over that span, and are beating teams like they owe them money. They have outscored their opponents 42-19, and have won their last two games by four or more goals. They are one of the most fun teams to watch right now, along with Philadelphia, the Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks.
Ottawa managed to keep many of its star players - such as Daniel Alfredsson and Wade Redden - while acquiring young superstar Dany Heatley and legendary goalie Dominik Hasek.
The Canucks saw the return of Todd Bertuzzi, who was close to being suspended indefinitely after nearly killing the Colorado Avalanche's Steve Moore with a blindsided punch that broke his neck in 2003. The Canucks are 8-2 this year, led by Markus Naslund and the Sedin twins, and are aiming to impress in a very tough Western Conference.
With all these exciting teams and players, it is worthwhile to check out the new hockey game, even for non-hockey fans. Although the Flyers games are not all televised, the Boston Bruins are a solid squad as well. They play against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday at the same time against the New Jersey Devils.
Hockey is also aired on OLN on Monday nights and Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. October 31st is the Montreal Canadiens versus the Rangers, and November 1st is the Chicago Blackhawks versus the Red Wings.
